Meet Sarah Owen, a proud Peters Township mom who somehow manages to keep up with the nonstop energy of her two boys, Chase (5) and Miles (3), while balancing family life with confidence. Alongside her husband, Anthony (A.J.), Owen embraces an active lifestyle filled with sports, outdoor adventures and making memories on the go.
As a senior actuary and mother of two young boys, what does work-life balance realistically look like in your household?
Work-life balance in my home looks a bit like controlled chaos day to day. I’m incredibly fortunate to work for a company that not only respects work-life balance but actively encourages it in a work-from-home environment. Realistically, balance means going from spending hours deep in data analysis to, in the next moment, explaining to a tiny human why we can’t have candy for lunch. For me, work-life balance is not about doing everything perfectly but about being present where I’m needed, laughing through the chaos and being grateful that I can continue building my career while still being present for the priceless moments at home.
What strategies help you manage the demands of a high-responsibility career while staying present with your family?
I have a strong appreciation for my “village.” I’m very lucky to have a supportive husband, grandparents and nannies who all make an enormous difference. This support allows me to be efficient during business hours, knowing that my kids are well taken care of and thriving in my absence. And at the end of the day, I close my laptop and do my best to “leave work at the office” and turn my undivided attention to my family. I’ve learned to give myself grace when the balance feels off one way or the other. There is no perfect balance every single day in a work from home environment, but we make it work as a family!
How has becoming a parent changed the way you define professional success?
Early in my career, success felt more linear: pass the next exam, earn more credentials and take on the next big opportunity. In actuarial work, there are credentialing exams that require weeks/months of focused preparation and study. They require a huge time commitment (hundreds of hours of study time and practice), and for this particular chapter of life, I’ve made the intentional decision to put that part of my career on pause while my kids are young.
That doesn’t mean I’m less ambitious. My ambition just looks a little different right now. For me, success right now means doing work I’m proud of, continuing to grow and learn, being honest about my capacity and still having enough of myself left at the end of the day to be the type of mother I want to be.
Your family prioritizes spending time outdoors whenever you can. Why is that important to you and how do you make it happen?
We’re lucky that our kids are still quite young and our schedules have not yet been completely taken over by school, sports and other activities. Right now, we have the flexibility to squeeze in little adventures throughout the week. We know this phase will not last forever, much like a perfect weather day in Pittsburgh, so we’re trying to soak it up while we can.
The boys love exploring new parks and playgrounds, turning dirt piles into full-scale construction sites, going on “hikes” along the Montour Trail and generally getting as muddy, sweaty and messy as possible. I love knowing the activities they love help them develop gross and fine motor skills, sensory awareness, creativity and imaginative play. The goal is fresh air, movement, a little adventure and accepting that the laundry will absolutely suffer as a result.
Between all you have going on, how do you make space for your own interests?
I have always loved reading, but nowadays, if I tried to sit down and read a physical book, I would fall asleep halfway through the first chapter. So, my love of reading has morphed into an audiobook addiction. I can listen while folding laundry, driving, cleaning up the kitchen or any other tasks that keep our household running.
As a family, we try to make time for weekend trips to visit out-of-town friends and family, which helps us stay connected and gives everyone a change of scenery. I also make time for a few Broadway shows each year with my dad. My own interests look a little different than they did before kids, but they have not disappeared, just adapted!
When your children look back on these years, what do you hope they remember most?
I hope they remember feeling loved, happy and supported, and remember the little things: playground trips, bedtime stories, kitchen dance parties, weekend adventures and all the ordinary moments that somehow become the most meaningful ones. And if they also remember that their mom could pack a snack bag, hop on a Zoom call, find the missing shoe and break up a brotherly wrestling match all within five minutes, I would not be mad about that either.
FAMILY FAVORITES:
Weekend Activity: Weekends in Deep Creek Lake with the family
Sports Team: Pittsburgh Steelers, Golden State Warriors, Chelsea F.C. and anything Penn State
Family Movie: We’re currently watching “Swapped” (new movie on Netflix) fairly regularly, but the Super Mario Bros movies are always a hit!
Date Night Plans: A.J. always plans the best date nights.
Family Restaurant: Spoonwood Brewing Company (Bethel Park). The food is great, and there’s a fenced in grassy area for kids to run around!
Carrie Woodard is a National Certified Counselor, National Certified School Counselor and a Pittsburgh mama of two.
